Tag Archives: sbg ireland

Despite talk of him riding off into the sunset with a huge wad of cash in his bag, Conor McGregor owes a debt to the Irish people that must be honoured. The year was 2013 and for most of those outside of the hardcores of the European MMA scene, the lanky, mohawk-sporting featherweight who walked out in the Ericsson Globe …

Gunnar Nelson is quietly one of the UFC’s most potent finishers, something that is highlighted by his devastating, but technical, body of work to date. Earlier this week, we delved into why this is such a huge fight for Nelson’s push towards reaching his long-expected potential. And it’s very true. As one of the best pure jiu-jitsu practitioners on the …

Dillon Danis announced to the world via Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show that he will be making his return to the Bellator cage on May 11. Danis’ pro-MMA debut saw him come away with an impressive first-round submission victory over Kyle Walker at Bellator 198. After pulling guard on his opponent, the difference in their skill-levels on the ground became very …

For all of the wealth, admiration and success Conor McGregor has accumulated over the years, one moment of uncertainty and doubt became the key ingredient to his inimitable drive and self-belief. The consistent rise of the former UFC lightweight champion and his power over the world of combat sports has hit something of a speed-bump in recent times, a process that …

Blaine O’Driscoll spoke to us here at Pundit Arena MMA ahead of his WWFC flyweight title showdown in Kiev, Ukraine this weekend. After O’Driscoll had earned a shot at the Cage Warriors flyweight title last year, the reigning champion Nathan Greyson confirmed that he was unable to make weight for the bout just days before the fight’s date – which …

Bellator Dublin fight day is now finally upon us and all of the signs are there that it is going to be a pivotal night for the sport of MMA in this country. I arrived to Dublin’s 3Arena yesterday at about 4:55pm, minutes before the Bellator 217 ceremonial weigh-ins took place. It was almost strange to visit tonight’s battleground before …

Bellator Dublin is now just under a week away and as time has gone on, it has become increasingly clear that we are about to witness something special. Cast your minds back to the summer of 2014. In the week that led up to the UFC’s second trip to the Irish capital, those looking on the outside looking in could have …

Our third featured fighter ahead of Bellator Dublin is a man who well and truly exemplifies Ireland’s growing reputation for producing precise and technically fluid strikers, the Face Of Bellator himself, Richard Kiely. The idea here is to shine a spotlight on some of the Irish athletes competing in the 3Arena on February 23 – giving you a quick glimpse …

Our second featured fighter ahead of next weekend’s Bellator Dublin is the long, rangy middleweight from Cahir, Tipperary, Will ‘F*ckin’ Fleury. The idea here is to shine a spotlight on some of the Irish athletes competing in the 3Arena on February 23 – giving you a quick glimpse into a particular highlight from their career. Pundit Arena MMA will act as your go-to …

All of the lovers, the haters, believers, and naysayers have each contributed equally towards the eternal battle between those who have followed one young man from Crumlin, Dublin as he took over the fight-game. The rivalries that exist within the world of sport are one of the foremost reasons we tune in week in, week out. The built-in narrative that makes …

A week has passed since the news broke that Bellator are returning to Dublin next year and in the time since, it has become increasingly clear that Scott Coker and co. have crafted an opportunity to do something incredible on February 23. Cast your minds back to the summer of 2014. In the week that led up to the UFC’s second trip …

Bellator grabbed quite a few European headlines after they signed a large number of Irish fighters in one quick swoop earlier this year and with a return to Dublin set for February 2019, it looks as though they are gearing up for something special. Memories of 2014’s UFC Dublin passed through my mind upon hearing the original announcement in the …

Gunnar Nelson is coming up against one of the UFC welterweight division’s most intensely violent customers at UFC 231 but believes that he can use that to his advantage. Read the first part of our interview with Gunnar here. After lay-off that has lasted close to eighteen months, Nelson’s return to the UFC octagon has seen him paired up with …

Gunnar Nelson spoke exclusively to us here at Pundit Arena MMA about his imminent return to the UFC octagon at UFC 231 this weekend and the work he has put in to ensure that he makes the most of it. Rebounding from a loss is always a tough task but everything from the manner in which Gunnar lost out to …

Brian ‘The Pikeman’ Moore enjoyed a strong start to his featherweight clash with Noad Lahat but things quickly turned south after he sustained injuries to both hands. The first round saw Moore score a knockdown that could well have resulted in the finish had the round not ended directly after. According to Moore’s statement after the fight, he sustained the …

SBG Ireland’s long-time striking coach Owen Roddy has officially parted ways with the gym after a period of 13 years. Roddy is one of the most prominent figures in the Irish MMA scene – notably coaching some of the country’s top fighters, including the former two-weight UFC champion Conor McGregor among others. In recent times, he has been focussing on …

In this, the seventh edition of Exploring Irish MMA, we speak to SBG Ireland featherweight Brian ‘The Pikeman’ Moore as he prepares for perhaps the biggest fight of his career to date. Moore’s only setbacks since signing for Bellator two years ago have come against the former two-time Bellator title-challenger Daniel Weichel and one of the brightest 145lb up-and-comers in …

SBG Ireland’s James Gallagher has announced that he has signed his next fight contract with Bellator as he looks to rebound from his first career loss. The Strabanimal is close to his return it seems! The highly-touted young fighter suffered his first setback on the road of championship glory in the form of a first-round TKO loss to Ricky Bandejas …